Saturday 22nd June

What a great sunset we had out here last night, needless to say I did not take an image of it, so you will just have to believe me...

Earlier on this week, Distillery Dave had a White tailed Eagle flying over the Distillery where he works, the Kilchoman Distillery which is along the road from here at Rockside.

Gary had seen a Whooper Swan and also he had an Osprey fishing on Loch Finlaggan yesterday.

Christine Menzies had seen a couple of Barn Owls as she was coming home to Port Ellen , both around the Machrie yesterday evening.

This afternoon, I was speaking with Kevin Hand who is leading a tour  for Ace Cultural Tours over on Islay, Jura and Colonsay at present. Some top birds have been seen by their group... A White tailed Eagle on Jura, a Cuckoo heard on Jura, Hen Harriers seen on all 3 islands and some Redpolls on Jura, Sedge Warblers seen and heard  on Islay, and also some Chough here. Hopefully, Kevin will send some more sightings for us before they leave on Tuesday. 

Saturday 14th February

Gone from an early entry to rather a late entry tonight, sorry folks.... Earlier this week Paul Hathaway had seen 12 Bullfinches down in Bridgend woods. Over at Gruinart he had seen a Barn Owl along the flats and then another Barn Owl just before Craigfad, below Port Charlotte, thanks Paul. Dave Protherough from Kayak wild Islay had been returning home this afternoon on the ferry and had seen 2 White tailed Sea Eagles on Glas Eilean with a Golden Eagle flying high in the same locality. Other visitors reported spotting a few Canada Geese over on the islands between Islay and Jura. Mick Hemingway, the winner of the competition at the Bird Fair arrived on Islay today for a week and had a great start seeing Choughs. He too had seen the birds that Dave had seen from the ferry, so was well impressed...

Tues 28th Oct

What a day for October, the gritters have been out, gritting the roads to prevent ice, and plenty of dirty snow and hail showers thrown in for good measure. In fact the snow on the Paps of Jura, and also the hills behind Bowmore had their winter coats on all day, quite often it has gone by lunchtime, on the odd occasion when we get snow.

Michal had been out down on the RSPB Oa reserve today, and had captured this Redwing. There was a flock of around 70 birds there, along with a few Fieldfares. The flock of over 100 Twite still remain, as well as some Linnets. There was both a male and female Hen Harrier out hunting, and also he also saw 2 Golden Eagles and a Peregrine. MS

David Goodwin, a visiting birder who has visited regularly over the past 25 years, e mailed to say that he had seen 2 immature Grey Phalarope in the bay at Port Charlotte on Saturday morning.

While out in Port Charlotte with friends earlier this evening, there was a report of what could possibly be a Red breasted Goose, so something go and look for tomorrow! Coming home, we were pleasantly surprised to see 3 Barn Owls out hunting a different locations. The Swallows were seen in Port Charlotte again today and another couple were seen at Port Ellen too.